Category: Uncategorized

Slow Computer|Corona, CA

Posted on by admin

In a day and age where waiting is an annoyance we are unwilling to deal with, having computer issues are a headache. Not only do we live on the internet, but even basic life functions have somehow integrated a computer into it. So, when we have a slow computer what can we do to speed things up?

There are several things that can contribute to your computer slowing down.

 Bugs in the operating system, failing hardware, or even static electricity from carpet can lead to computer glitches. But before taking your computer in for repair or buying a new PC all together, try some quick fixes first.

  • Uninstall unused programs. When buying a new computer, programs that have been pre-installed.
  • Delete temporary files. All your browsing history remains deep in your computer, and the same goes for when you install something. Make sure to get rid of all the clutter to free up space on your system.
  • Get more storage. If you have too much on your hard drive, it will affect the speed of your computer, especially if you use your computer for things such as recording media or video.
  • Stop unnecessary reboots. Every time you start up your PC, some programs automatically run in the background. Every application that is running will use your PCs memory and slow it down.
  • Clean it up. Dust gets sucked in by the cooling fan and can clog the airflow of the computer causing it to overheat and slow down.

Call Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA for help with your computer repair at 951-737-8558. Learn more at our website at www.urcs.net.

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Norco, Riverside County, Orange County and all surrounding areas!

Malware and Virus Protection|Managed IT Services Corona CA

Posted on by admin

Since everything revolves around the internet, it is important that we make sure to protect ourselves. It is important to know the difference between the things harming your computer. A big threat – malware. The term “malware” refers to any type of malicious software that’s designed to infect your computer or mobile device, including a computer virus and is designed to specifically harm and infect host systems. Managed IT Services can continually help protect your businesses network and computer systems.

Here are some things you have probably heard of, now what they mean.

Virus. This is a contagious program that attaches itself to another piece of software, and then progresses to reproduce itself when the software is running.

Adware. Adware is the least dangerous and most profitable malware. It displays ads on your computer.

Spyware. This is a software that spies on you by tracking your internet activity in order to send adware back to your machine.

Worms. This is a program that replicates itself and destroys data and files on your computer. Worms are designed to “eat” the system operating files and data till the drive is completely empty.

Trojan horse. The most dangerous, Trojans are designed to discover your financial information and take over your computers system resources.

Ransomware. If you see a screen that warns you that you have been locked out of your computer until you pay for your cybercrimes, you have ransomware. Even if you do pay to unlock your system, you are not free from of it locking you out again.

Call Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA for more information on Anti-Virus and Managed IT Services at 951-737-8558. Learn more at our website at www.urcs.net.

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Norco, Riverside County, Orange County and all surrounding areas!

Common Keyboard Shortcuts to Know | Prescott, AZ

Posted on by admin

Do you utilize keyboard shortcuts? There are a few everyday key combinations you can use to boost productivity whether you use a Windows or Mac computer. If you haven’t been using keyboard shortcuts, they will go a long way to making your day more efficient. We find that those in creative spaces get a lot out of these shortcuts, but of course, they are for everyone.

Windows:

Ctrl + Z: Undo

No matter what you have been up to on your computer, Ctrl + Z is a universal lifesaver.

Ctrl + A: Select all

Rather than clicking and dragging your mouse across a paragraph or URL, simply click the general area of text and use Ctrl + A to save you time and finger strain.

Alt + Tab: Toggle

If you are running multiple applications on your screen and need to go back and forth, simply use this shortcut to navigate between them. This will save you time because instead of trying to figure out which application is minimized or open when doing multiple things, this lets you see it all at once.

Ctrl + Esc: Open Start Menu

Older generations of windows computers may not have the windows button that later models feature. To open the start menu to access different applications, Ctrl + Esc is a nifty trick!

Mac:

For Mac users, the command key is the go-to starting point for any shortcuts you may want to make. The trick is to remember which alphabetical keys do what – and try not to mix them up on important projects.

Command + A: Select All

Simply click on the section of text you want to select and use Command + A to highlight the area.

Command + S: Save

This is useful when working on documents in the flow state. We all know saving documents as you go can be a lifesaver for those files that are too important to lose time on re-typing. Just use Command + S as if it were part of the paragraph, and your content will be saved as you go!

To learn more about our services, visit us online at www.urcs.net or give us a call at 951.737.8558 today.

5 Tips for Shopping Safely Online This Holiday Season

Posted on by admin

Thanks to technology people can now shop from the convenience of their homes to local coffee shops using smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices. And with the holiday season already in full swing, many of us are doing so. Not only can online shopping save you time but it can also save you from encountering crowds of people that can suck your energy and holiday spirit dry. If you choose to do online holiday shopping, make sure that you have all your security measures in place. The holiday season is a time where cyber criminals are still very much at large. The following tips are recommended if you’re doing online holiday shopping this year:

Too Good To Be True- One common tactic cyber criminals use is using very low prices on popular items to lure potential victims in.

Use a Credit Instead of Debit– Use your credit card instead of your debit card because if your credit is used for something that you didn’t purchase, it’s easier to resolve issues with your credit card company than with your bank.

Credit Card Alert Features– Take advantage of your credit card alert features. These sort of alerts can alarm you when there’s abnormal activity and is very useful during the busy holiday season!

Safe Apps– For safe online shopping through apps you must make sure there are downloaded from a trusted source, such as the Apple Store or Android Market. Be sure to read through the various permissions the app is asking you to grant and note weather they make sense.

Stay Current– Keep your cyber information safe by ensuring that all of your security software is updated. Once an update is available, cyber criminals have all the information they need to attack your device.

Keep your personal information safe this holiday season by exercising caution when making online purchases. If your computer has contracted a virus while shopping online, contact Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558. For information regarding the services we offer visit our website at www.urcs.net.

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin, and all surrounding areas.

National Cyber Security Awareness Month | Online Security

Posted on by admin

Online Security Protection Internet Safety

The National Cyber Security Division within the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Alliance has sponsored National Cyber Security Awareness Month, every October since 2004. National Cyber Security Awareness Month is focused on encouraging individuals to be cautious and to use protection while accessing the internet. Weather we realize it or not the internet impacts our lives on a daily basis. We use the internet to connect with family and friends, to handle business and banking online and rely on it for many other services, like electricity and even transportation, which are supported by online systems. Technology has prompted advancements in business, healthcare, music, government and many other industries.

As technology keeps evolving, our lives are becoming easier and more connected than ever. Yet the more our lives become more connected through the internet, the more we become vulnerable for increased risks of theft, fraud and abuse. No one is immune to cyber risks at this point. As individuals, cybersecurity risks can threaten our identities, finances and privacy. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to keep yourself, your assets and personal information safe online. The following includes a few tips all internet users can take advantages of the month of National Cyber Security Month and throughout the year:

  • Create Strong passwords and do not share them with anyone.
  • Keep operating system, browser and other critical software’s up to date by installing updates.
  • Raise awareness by talking openly with your family, friends and community about Internet safety.
  • Limit the amount of personal information you share online and use privacy setting to avoid sharing information widely
  • Be very cautious about what you receive or read online – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

For more information regarding online safety and what you can do to stay protected from cybersecurity risks, contact Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558 or visit our website at www.urcs.net to discover what services we offer.

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin, and all surrounding areas.

 

Hackers Hit Bugzilla | Tech News

Posted on by admin

Earlier this month Mozilla, the company behind the Firefox Web Browser, reported that hackers had gained access their bug tracker Bugzilla and stole security-sensitive information. It’s believe that the information that’s been stolen was used by the hackers to attack Firefox users.

Although Mozilla did not provide any details on how exactly the stolen information was used to target Firefox users, the company did say in a blog post that they were making improvements to the bug tracker in an effort to protect their products, developer community and users from these hacker.

Bugzilla is an open source tool that’s used to track flaws in Mozilla software. This information on Bugzilla can be viewed by the public but access to security sensitive information is restricted to certain users. Fortunately, the company planned to update Bugzilla’s security so that similar attacks like this don’t happen again later down the road.

“We are updating Bugzilla’s security practices to reduce the risk of future attacks of this type. As an immediate first step, all users with access to security-sensitive information have been required to change their passwords and use two-factor authentication” Mozilla stated in blog post. “We are reducing the number of users with privileged access and limiting what each privileged user can do. In other words, we are making it harder for an attacker to break in, providing fewer opportunities to break in, and reducing the amount of information an attacker can get by breaking in.”

To read Mozilla’s blog post click here.

If you think your computer has been infected with a virus, contact Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558 or visit our website at www.urcs.net for more information regarding our services.

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin, and all surrounding areas.

The Internet and You | Technology

Posted on by admin

There is no denying that the technological boom in America has accelerated the amount of internet users. The internet is readily available on our desktops, laptops, phones and now capable watches! With just about the entire world connected through the internet, it is impossible to get away from.

Whether it is for your business or on your down time, many are on their computer consistently throughout the day. There is an entire movement rippling through the United States to unplug, but it’s simply not realistic. To put it simply, the internet has changed the way we live, work and communicate and that has brought us into the modern world.

Utilize the internet for all it is worth, and when it acts up or runs slow, breathe. There is a whole world out there using this technology, and there is always a technician there to help you through it.

If you are currently experiencing problems with your PC, contact Up and Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558 or visit our website at www.urcs.net for more information regarding our services.

 Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin and all surrounding areas.

Windows 10 is Finally Here | Windows 10 Features

Posted on by admin

After months and months of anticipation Windows 10 is finally here! This is the biggest update Windows has seen in many years and the new features are fantastic. One of the neat things about Windows 10 is you don’t have to pay for it, so long as you already run windows 8 or Windows that is. With that being said lets dive on into some of best features of Windows 10:

  • New Interface – One of the most obvious changes are the new use interface. Unlike Windows 8, Windows 10 doesn’t force you to use the touch interface features. Windows 10 works equally on mouse and key board PCs and touch devices.
  • New Start Menu- Windows 10 new start of menu is a blend of Windows 7 traditional start menu and Windows 8 Live Titles. The startup menu is two panels side by side, the panel on the left shows pinned and the most recent apps used, while the right side of the panel brings features back from the Windows 8.1.
  • Cortana- Cortana will now be featured on your desktop thanks to Windows 10, and Cortana makes multitasking easier than ever. Cortana is actually built into the native system and will be able to pull local and web based information when you perform a search.
  • Microsoft Edge – Windows 10 is leaving Internet Explorer to be a thing of the past, and is bring on Edge. Edge provides a fast and responsive user friendly experience, while adding a few tricks of its own like incorporating Cortana. Microsoft Edge also allows you scribble on any webpage and share your comments with friends through social networking by using a slide in menu without ever leaving the browser.
  • Action Center- the Action Center organizes your notification by app and also provides fast access to multiple settings such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, airplane mode and other controls.

For questions or information regarding IT Services, contact Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558 or visit our website at www.urcs.com.

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin, and surrounding areas.

 

History of the Desktop Computer

Posted on by admin

The first commercially available desktop computer was available in 1974, this was the Altair 800. This pioneer computer wasn’t much to behold, but at the time it was revolutionary. With toggle switches, LED lights and only 1K of memory, the Altair 8800 opened the doors to thousands of possibilities. In the mid- 70s RadioShack introduced the Tandy computer which had a more user friendly approach and was an instant success. RadioShack went on to be the first real player in the computer game and the Tandy’s keyboard and CRT monitor it was easy to see why.

At the time RadioShack and the Tandy were creating a buzz, Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs were working on the next big thing. The Apple computer they created was followed by the Apple Two with similar features as the Tandy but one – a color monitor. Competition was stirring and by the late 70s the Arti 400, TI-99, and the VIC-20 were soon hitting the shelves. Commodore (maker of the VIC-20) went on to make one of the bestselling computers of all time with their Commodore 64.

The next big thing in computers would not come about until IBM entered the playing field with their IBM PC in 1981. This was the first computer to feature the Microsoft MS-DOS operating system which became the standard. By the late 1980s Apple Computers was the only company that was not running on the MS-DOS operating system. Apple was pioneering at this time the GUI (graphical user interface), a more interactive approach to handling a computer.

Since then, the rate at which personal computers have expanded into our offices, homes and laps has accelerated. To say we have come a long way from blinking LED lights and basic keyboards is an understatement. Today we have thinner, lighter, and sleeker desktops, laptops, and tablets due to decades of technological advances. Pioneers in the computer and operational systems industries are always attempting to discover and create the next big breakthrough in computer technology and user experience. There is now an entire generation of people who have had access to a computer their whole life and that, in the minds of many, only scratches the surface of what is possible.

For questions or information regarding IT Services, contact Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558 or visit our website at www.urcs.net.  

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin, and surrounding areas.

How to Clean Your Laptop | Corona, CA

Posted on by admin

 

Are you keys sticking? Is your laptop starting to look a little grungy? Well maybe it’s time you give your laptop a good cleaning. Every computer requires a cleaning once in a while, and that includes your laptop. Laptops actually require a little more cleaning that a standard computer because they are handled more. The list below includes the steps you will need to take to get your laptop looking shiny and new.

Supplies that you’ll need to gather up:

  • Lint free cloth
  • Mild Dishwashing Detergent
  • Can Of Compressed Air
  • Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol

Before you start, make sure to power down your laptop and unplug it from the wall. If you laptop has a battery make too sure remove that if your model also you to.

The first area you should start cleaning is the lid and bottom of the laptop. Start by mixing a couple drops of dishwasher detergent (such as Dawn) and a couple cups of warm water together, now dip your lint free cloth into the mixture, wring out, and wipe the surface. Rise your cloth with clean water and wipe down again. Lastly, take a dry cloth and wipe down laptop to avoid water streaks.

The next step you should take is cleaning your keyboard, but be sure not to let any liquid drip down into the keyboard. Take your compressed can of air and use that to remove any dirt, dust or crumbs that could be in the crevices of the keyboard. Next, use the isopropyl rubbing alcohol to wipe down your key board to remove any oily residue.

Last but not least, it’s time to clean the vents. If your laptop has large side vents you’ll most likely find some dust bunnies there.  Use your compress can of air to blow the dust out of the vents. By getting rid of excess dust and debris it will not only make your laptop look much better, but it will run better too.

If you are having any problems with the way your computer is preforming, contact Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558 or visit our website at www.urcs.net for more information.

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin, and all surrounding areas.